Movie: AIRS ozone comparison with simulated ozone precursor transport, morphed ozone + emissions dispersion:7/92

Description:

The ozone monitoring data from the AIRS database is compared to the simulated transport of ozone precursors, using CAPITA the Monte Carlo Model (July 18 - 25, 1992) with two hour time steps. The ozone transport simulation is the same movie as Ozone transport simulation using the CAPITA Monte Carlo model .

Purpose:

To see how well the simple simulation of ozone precursor transport compares to the pattern of ozone indicated by the measured data during an ozone episode in the Eastern US.

Method:

The contoured plots of the AIRS ozone data were created by performing a linear interpolation (i.e. morphing) between the 2:00 PM ozone data. The methodology for the model simulation of ozone transport is discussed in the description of the movie Ozone transport simulation using the CAPITA Monte Carlo model .

Interpretation:

The crude transport simulation of ozone precursors compares reasonably well with the measured data. On 7/18 the high ozone precursor concentration (red dots) is located around Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The paricle motion indicates transport to the east, Maryland-Massachusetss. On 7/19, the entire Washington-Boston megalopolis showed elevated (>80 ppb) ozone levels. Evidently, some of the ozone was transported to the megalopolis from the Ohio river basin. Note the Candadian cold front ventilating New England on July 21.